Finding equation of a plane passing through a point with given direction vectors

In summary, the equation for a plane passing through a point with given direction vectors is written as ax + by + cz = d, with a, b, and c being the components of the normal vector and d being a constant. The normal vector of a plane can be found using the cross product of two non-parallel direction vectors. The constants 'd' in the plane equation represents the distance of the plane from the origin and can also be interpreted as the value of the dot product of the normal vector with any point on the plane. The equation of a plane can be determined with any number of direction vectors, as long as they are not parallel and all lie in the plane, but using two direction vectors is the simplest and most common
  • #1
htoor9
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Homework Statement


I need to find the equation of a plane with direction vectors <1,3,-1>/sqrt(11) and <-2,1,1>/sqrt(6) passing through the point (1,2,3)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not really sure what to do, I was considering taking the cross product, but I'm not sure what that would leave. Thanks
 
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  • #2
The cross product of two tangent vectors would give you a normal vector, wouldn't it? Can't you find the equation of the plane from a normal vector and a point on the plane?
 

1. What is the equation for a plane passing through a point with given direction vectors?

The equation for a plane passing through a point with given direction vectors can be written in the form ax + by + cz = d, where a, b, and c are the components of the normal vector to the plane and d is a constant.

2. How do you find the normal vector of a plane?

To find the normal vector of a plane, you can use the cross product of two non-parallel direction vectors. The resulting vector will be perpendicular to both direction vectors and will therefore be normal to the plane.

3. Can the direction vectors be any two non-parallel vectors?

Yes, the direction vectors can be any two non-parallel vectors, as long as they lie in the plane. However, choosing vectors that are not parallel to the plane's normal vector will make the calculations easier.

4. What is the significance of the constant 'd' in the plane equation?

The constant 'd' represents the distance of the plane from the origin. It can also be interpreted as the value of the dot product of the normal vector with any point on the plane.

5. Can you find the equation of a plane passing through a point with more than two direction vectors?

Yes, the equation of a plane can be determined with any number of direction vectors, as long as they are not parallel and all lie in the plane. However, using two direction vectors is the simplest and most common method.

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